Wednesday, January 31, 2007

There is here a formula for increasing our strength of soul. It could be a best seller because the times are right for a wonderful self-help resource. Who doesn't want their soul strengthened? There is a huge market available.

Unfortunately it turns out that the cost of imaging G*D is high. It comes with an increased regard for the lowly and a willingness to engage in deliverance of the troubled. To do this an increased consciousness of the haughty and wrathful needs to be cultivated so they can't hide behind fancy language, accumulated resources, and easily applied power.

Soul strengthening implies a steadfastness of not only purpose, but application. To take one's eye off the prize of regard for and engagement with every level of the poor leaves one open to cooption by the haughty and wrathful. If we are not diligent in our awareness and implementation we become part of the problem and our soul shrinks.

What seemed like a wonderful offering - soul strengthening - turns out to be as difficult as anything. This is a task that cries out for not just a personal resolve, but communal support. It takes a village to strengthen a soul.

= = = = = = =

let us now be thankfulfor humble peoplewho are willing to besoul strengthened

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Guilt is very powerful. Whether it is appropriate or inappropriate guilt, it has a controlling presence in our lives. We find ourselves reduced when it is felt and monstrous when it is absent. In some sense, guilt is something we can't live with or without.

Even when we have previously experienced guilt departing from us and the freedom that opens, we usually forget that sequence and hang on to the next guilt as long as ever we can. A great benefit of a congregation is the reminder system available to help us remember that it is more possible than we thought to be relieved of guilt - just in time to be burdened by a particular calling.

It makes a huge difference when guilt is taken away or cast away (directionality here probably doesn't make any difference, though it would be very important to some to have it fit their theology/philosophy).

Remember a time your guilt was removed. Apply that to a current guilt. Go ahead.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Though there is a tendency to attribute power to that which is greater, longer, wider, deeper, power that is implacable and must be bowed down to, it is important to see an on-going vitality of steadfast eternity. Time, Creation, G*D are powerful in relationship to grasshoppers, slaves, or frail (various images of humans). But to stop with that distinction is to dismiss everything in favor of some one thing.

In these passages a key dynamic is not the distance between the great and the small, but the willingness of the powerful to energize the less powerful. This might be called silly as it adds to entropy (at least in a closed system) but it might also be envisioned as the only perpetual energy mechanism there is, one that passes on energy in an open environment.

Our tendency is to look at a given cycle of rising and falling, rather than an on-going stream of life. When looking cyclically we get into law issues such as this interesting one: "(though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law)". When looking on-goingly we can see patterns of connection between our predecessors and our descendants, our selves and others, one religious, economic, or political system and another.

Here we proclaim a connection of intentional interaction between every disparate moment and rejoice in time's flow that supports us and encourages us and engages us to join the flow. Rejoice in every evidence of power coming to the faint, being received, and passed on.

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haven't you heardhas your heart not knownit is not what gets stored up that countsbut what passes through

hearts get attackedwith storage blockagesthey faint and failin need of new flow

as we pass throughwe store of looseset your heart on this choicethat others might also hear

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Time and again we come to ask the question of - what’s in it for me? And time and again we come to be asked – what’s in it for others?

An awareness of the distinction between whether we are asking or being asked focuses us on whether or not we sense our sense or common sense or human wisdom is the chief measuring rod of life. If it is, we have seen evidence of our following prescribed rituals such as fasting and finding their limit in justifying what we are currently doing.

If our sense is that these ritual righteousnesses have their place but there is a mystery of more-life that takes place beyond them, then we may find another level of fasting and living. If this is the case, we have evidence that our actions can have a positive effect in the lives of others that echo in our own.

If fasting from anger doesn’t loosen bonds we wrap around another, our fasting only makes us look tolerant.

If fasting from greed doesn’t loosen a yoke we place around others to provide our well-being, our fasting only makes us look philanthropic.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Everything was moving along swimmingly. Jesus claims an important past vision has come true. That which folks had been waiting for, need not be awaited any longer. Everyone spoke well of him. His state of the nation speech was a hit. It didn't require any change on anyone's part - it was already decided.

This guy really is one of us, no matter about some outstanding little details (after all he wasn't born here and there was that refugee time in his life and there have been a few grumblings about him). Pleased that they would be known as the deciding place, he was indeed Joseph's son, our son.

Then, instead of leaving well enough alone, Jesus had to go and push. He said, "Perhaps you are wondering why you got inspiring words from me, but there hasn't been any corroborating evidence of healing here? Well, you should wonder why this is all talk, the same old stuff, and no action. When your wondering leads you to understanding the implications for you and all, I'll move pretty quickly from being a favorite son to a meddling prophet. Crowds can rapidly move from Hosanna to Hang Him. Remember Elijah! Remember Elisha!"

Well, they caught on. They remembered and anticipated not being able to have pride of place. Not having a hanging tree at hand, they prepared to hurl him.

What are you remembering and anticipating this day?

= = = = = = =

today scripture is fulfilledwhen else, pray tellcould it have beenand still been scripture

scripture lifted from the pagewriting turned again to speakingspeaking engaged with hearingheart heard to life lived

bone by bonedried and alivedanced and threateningwe meet and go on

again and againour image of homefails to be homedrive on

filled full leaves no roomBethlehem or NazarethAmerica or Iraqscripture passes by

Thursday, January 25, 2007

As a paean to love, this is hard to beat. As a poetic definition of love, we find much to be admired here. And yet there is a distancing that sets up love standards without helping anyone approach them. With this distance all manner of ill has been done in the name of love. High among the painful interpretations are justifications of patience requiring an abused person to express their love by returning for another beating.

There is another hymn out of the United Methodist tradition that is not sung very much, much less in its entirety. It is Wrestling Jacob (often referred to as "Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown".

The mystery here is found between stanzas 8 and 9 where the question hangs in the air, "Speak, or Thou never hence shalt move,And tell me if Thy Name is Love."Pause (or not)"'Tis love! 'tis love!"

We are better served not to posit definitions, but to wrestle with ourselves and creation regarding the bedrock relationships that continue in halcyon days and brokenness.

This leads us to love being qualitatively set apart from faith and hope which both can find themselves so distanced when things fall apart.

Question: given G*D's failure of faith, e.g. flood; and G*D's failure of hope, e.g. Babel; where would you find G*D expressing a failure of love?

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

When in a ticklish situation it is helpful to find a focus of foundation that can re-center our vision of where we are and what is going on. When such a focus returns it is amazing what options are still open.

Here the Psalmist understands that life around her is very tenuous. Boxed in and threatened, what is there to hold on to? There is no historical precedence to fall back on for consolation and plan to move on. There is no expectation of change no matter how persuasive might be a rhetorical speech of smoke and mirrors, trying to distract us from a potential opening for change.

Paying attention to the present, particularly, seems to hold no direction that might bear fruit. So, wherever one looks, there is nothing but a hope against hope.

What is left is miracle and wonder. This is both a diminution of G*D and an expansion. Whatever gap is left, is G*D. G*D is beyond prediction and repetition of previous encounters.

Settling in to there being no option, all of a sudden there is. And praise flows as Butch and Sundance jump again.

= = = = = = =

Listen up godI'm looking for refugea fortress, a safe havenI'm looking for a structurewithin which I might be secure

even though that's what I'm looking forI am open to a surprise rescueone not predicated on the pastor an extension of the present

my tendency is to see howyou have operated with me beforeand look for that again

Once upon a time I thought it would be more truthful to shift my language away from that of the predominant patriarchy - male language standing for all people.

It was an interesting birthing process that took a fair amount of time.

It began with the conception of the idea. Just even thinking about it took awhile.

In fact it began before conception with the witness of faithful folk.

My first attempts were not very hopeful. I would hear myself sliding back into the old language pattern, time after time. It seemed my best intention had no effect. If Homer Simpson had been around at the time I would have echoed his, "Doh!"

Little by little the time between hearing my slip and the slip itself was reduced. Image the word "his" being recognized closer and closer to my lips.

Then came that awkward moment that lasted, again, all too long, when my mouth wrestled with a caught word. It would still get out but not without a struggle that may have sounded like a stutter.

Eventually the word didn't make it to the mouth and the process continued to before the thought.

What other words and concepts do we need to work at leaving behind, beginning with understanding their desirability before their presence?

PS - actually there are still slips in moments of stress - old tapes don't die they just bide their time.

PPS - We know what needs to be changed, now we just need to begin the formation of a change process in the wombs of our lives.

It is not unusual for scripture to be written backward. A wonder is experienced. Wonder about wonder goes on and on. A meaning is settled upon. Reports go forth. It is repeated and finally written. By the time the writing is done it has gone through much refinement and interpretation.

Just as the birth stories of Jesus were probably the last part of the gospels to be written, this understanding of Jeremiah's birth probably came much later in response to the difficulties he faced. It would give much needed support in his trying times to come to understand that his current consequence is a natural outgrowth of having been a prophet from before a life-confirming breath.

What story do you rely on to get you through your consequences? Does it go back to creation? to conception? to an event? to yesterday?

The better you know your foundational story, the bolder you can be in making a difference in the usual mind-set of your cultural setting.

= = = = = = =

today a second adopted grandsoncomes to his new homebefore adoptionhe was knownbefore being knownhe was

Monday, January 22, 2007

We do so easily become accustomed to idols - that which would captivate us for its own end. Even the good things of our lives, or, more precisely, exactly the good things of our lives are prime candidates for being the strongest of idols. Personal wants, family, nation, doctrine all have moments of being exactly the right response to a particular situation and then they hang around to hang us out to dry in another.

Being so captivated makes it very easy to question any intervention on our behalf: "What have you to do with me. If I followed where you lead I won't recognize myself. In that choice your destruction is to be preferred over mine."

There is probably not a justification I have not used to keep on keeping-on with what I am doing. My knowledge about what I am up to is very puffed-up. Over-blown, even, to the point of fragility and hyper-sensitive to any attempt to change coming from the outside. Such change would explode my world and where would there be anything left on which to start to rebuild?

A first task of a prophet is to have their bubble burst about what is good. Love-of-G*D good doesn't revolve only about our knowledge. We are one satellite, among many, that becomes aware not only of trespasses against us, but ours against others. In this crucible a future is conceived, nurtured, and brought forth. This is also a first task of a congregation and a priest even though it is more difficult here to come to see it.

= = = = = = =

How you doin'?got anything to do with me?anything for me?anything from me?

we so question godly idolsourselves and others

when we catch a connectionbeyond captivityit is no surpriseamazement

then we enshrine our new connectionin routine expectation ripe for bursting

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Blessedness and rejoicing are both exciting, over-the-top, expressions and bedrock foundations from which comes steadfast love in shown in many ways. They need particulars to bring goodness into better clarity. They need particulars to respond to questions that will set case law.

Let's track some parallel terms from Micah, Psalms, Paul.

do justice - speak truth from the heart - do not take a bribe - desire wisdom

All manner of arrows can be drawn between these terms. Some will double-back on themselves, particularly when the beatitudes are tossed into the mix. Each of the blessings can be related to good effect to each of these terms.

In fact we have a season of possibilities here. Write them on a magnetic sheet and cut them apart. Each day rearrange them on your refrigerator until you have identified the best pattern for your life in this season. (In another season you may go through the same process and find yourself with a different best pattern.)

Friday, January 19, 2007

To be praised by everyone is either faint praise or an accumulation of political capital.

If praised by everyone it would be very easy to begin to think one can push to the next level. It was now time to move away from the exploratory committee stage and into full campaign mode. So a platform was presented and Jesus walked onto it, wrapping the mantle of prophet about himself. What we have been waiting for has arrived.

As we will hear next week, this doesn't go so well. Today candidates still go back to their hometown, or symbolic hometown, to announce their candidacy for the mantle of power.

What would you say if all eyes were upon you? Would it be that the past is fulfilled? that the future may now begin? Usually we are pretty humble about those sorts of pronouncements, but it may be time to dust off our pride of relationship with God and know the importance of this moment. It is a turning point for you and all of us.

A question before us is which way are we going to turn. Isaiah lays out a pretty good way for us to go, even as it is a pretty difficult way to travel - given the inertia and investment many have in their current state as better than it might otherwise have been.

Try saying this three times in a row several times today:Today scripture is fulfilled in my life.Today scripture is fulfilled in my life.Today scripture is fulfilled in my life.

Response? Response after you state it again?Response after you affirm it yet again?

= = = = = = =

scriptures arcmore broadlythan we hark

hard work and perseverancepay off for a lucky fewthey are part of a pair

hard work and perseverancefail all too many whoare the pair's other part

a fortunate few go their own wayunaware their freedom is builton the back of captive workers

good news for the sufferingGautama's noble truthsillumine this blind spot

Thursday, January 18, 2007

At first blush this is a wonderful formula. Unfortunately it soon runs afoul others in the same body and confusion as the body is variously understood as a religious experience, national identity, family blood, service organization purpose, or any other corporate identity that might get pitted against another until we are at each other's throats vying for power (Bears and Saints, to use an American football image).

I am that which I am joined to and have both communal and individual identities. Like it or not, being part of the body of Christ puts me in connection with some very questionable characters, including Jesus. To pull my individual Christian identity too closely around me would finally isolate me from every other Christian and to have theirs pulled too closely around me makes me want to give up an identity I have cherished. It is important to claim Christ as larger than any of our Christianities.

It is so easy to get into rankings within a body. Are we talking first Apostles or executively-privileged Presidents, or Father as family head or . . . ? Are we talking spiritual values trumping national values which take family values that in turn ranks higher than . . . ? If I am members of several bodies what happens when they are in conflict, when my patriotism claims my religion?

It is nice to have such a formula at hand to use against others when they don't measure up. It would be even better to have clarity about the limits of such a formula and a way to cut through the "apples and oranges" choices of real life.

How does this work in a world that is increasingly mistaking religion for nationalism and permitting one small segment of family values to smash larger family values by excluding those of a variety of sexual orientations? Between and within any aspect of this formula there are gaps that will only be healed by an application of "the greater gifts. . . ."

Without the greater gifts conversation, this one is fraught with danger.

= = = = = = =

I sing a song of the saints of G*D, patient and brave and true, who prayed and thought and lived and died with the G*D they loved and knew. And one was a Buddhist, one was a Muslim, one was a Christian, and one was a Jain; they were all of them saints of G*D, and I mean, G*D helping, to be one too.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

And slowly answer'd Arthur from the barge:"The old order changeth, yielding place to new,And God fulfils Himself in many ways,Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.Comfort thyself: what comfort is in me?I have lived my life, and that which I have doneMay He within Himself make pure! but thou,If thou shouldst never see my face again,Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayerThan this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voiceRise like a fountain for me night and day.For what are men better than sheep or goatsThat nourish a blind life within the brain,If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayerBoth for themselves and those who call them friend?For so the whole round earth is every wayBound by gold chains about the feet of God.But now farewell. I am going a long wayWith these thou seëst--if indeed I go--(For all my mind is clouded with a doubt)To the island-valley of Avilion;Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow,Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it liesDeep-meadow'd, happy, fair with orchard-lawnsAnd bowery hollows crown'd with summer sea,Where I will heal me of my grievous wound."

Avilion tells of the glory of G*D, as well as does creation. Where wounds are healed voiceless stars sing and a sun freed from domesticity runs wild across the sky.

Let the words of our mouths, our prayers for one another's souls, find an acceptability and purity of our best intentions.

= = = = = = =

it takes several times around the blockno only going around once for meto begin to glimpse glorybehind usual days marching onall at once for no reason at allwhat once was a silent lonelinessrattles the windows of our roomswith every timbre of joy

a few more laps bring an understandingof perfection never being perfectand wholeness always being wholethat sets our eyes anew onwhat might yet be beyond joy

and but a bit furtherlies a funeral bargeand final wordsstill searching for peacestill praying for soulsstill trusting simply trusting

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

There is still a teaching function for the followers of Levi. It is one thing to be high and lifted up, repeating holy words, and another to walk among people. Without the last part of verse 7 and all those named in verses 4 and 7 we lose the teaching function and only have the ceremonial left.

It is this ceremonial function, even of good words from the past, that so often gets us in trouble. Eliciting emotion is the key here - ritual crowd behavior (raising hands or lighters), corporate confession and moaning, and expectation of prosperity get us to lockstep. Standing only on ceremony we don't stand outside the judgment of the past, so easily revised, moment by moment, until we no longer know ourselves. We don't claim any worth for today qua today, as that is for the magic book to decide for us. We don't dare risk what little we have or a lot that we dream about and play the lottery for.

Of course the teaching of the Levites might well simply support the ceremonial. But the integrity of teaching may also allow us ask for background information, corroborating evidence, and rational expectation of consequences for mass behavior.

For the moment I will hope that even though my tongue doesn't wrap itself smoothly around Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah that they will receive some mention for doing what they could to humanize past laws understood to be from a holy one. To help people understand their situation can be revolutionary and liberating.

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word by wordphrase by phrasesentence by sentenceparagraph by paragraphchapter by chapterbook by bookand back the other way

we look for the key perspectiveis it a word?a phrase?a sentence?a chapter?a book?

what is the unit of meaning?does it come in a blinding flash?a day-long sermon?

how do word folkinterpret to sentence folkbook folk to paragraph folk?

one of these days we may yet stumble acrossa universal solvent for communicationperhaps a babble fishperhaps an understanding heartperhaps

until then we walk among ourselvesproclaiming and mutteringmay we do it as well and as kindlyas we can

There are many great balancing acts where we are not shaken, where we rest. Among the greatest is that of "none."

Are you seen, do you see yourself, as being of little value, of great value? The difference is smaller than a jot or tittle. It takes nothing to push a balanced scale, an empty scale. Let it go.

Fisher of fish or fisher of folk? Net leaver or family leaver? First journey or second journey to Tarshish or Nineveh? We tell ourselves stories that one is better than the other.

In a time of fulfillment "all" and "nothing" lose significance.

Let me have all things, let me having nothing, I freely and heartily yield.Let me have repentance, let me have good news, I freely and heartily yield.Let me have mourning, let me have rejoicing, I freely and heartily yield.Let me have prison, let me have Galilee, I freely and heartily yield.

What has been the tension you have been holding on to to define your present time here? Might this be a time of fulfillment where you can yield to both rather than wait for one to knock off the other?

= = = = = = =

rock against rockdevil against seaaddiction against addictionwe set our dilemmaswavering between themholding both so preciouswe could never put one down

time against spacematter against energygalaxy against quarkwe set our paradoxeschoosing one and thenfavoring the otheronce, twice, and thrice

doctrine against doctrinehymn against praisefaith against hopewe set our institutionsburning with passionburning each hereticloving sets more than love itself

Sunday, January 14, 2007

The Lord is my light . . . seek his face/light. What is this distance between having and seeking that finds us living most of our lives between?

Go into all the world, baptizing . . . Christ did not send me to baptize. Here a distance between community and individual sets up another omnipresent environment where we adapt and are evolved.

Light has dawned . . . repent. Repent . . . good news. Given time and space and matter and energy it seems we cannot escape these outcomes that circle through our lives. A dawning light reveals a present darkness and recognizing the possibility of changing direction brings comfort enough to test our current orientation.

An Epiphany star reminds us of the found and lost and found again process of growing spirits to find a next immanence or incarnation of G*D illumined by the ordinary. Stars of any sort in our lives are a joy to behold and a source of yearning when lost in storm clouds.

Where are you, your friends/family, spiritual fellowship with a star this day? __ It is in sight. __ It has recently dimmed. __ It peeks and hides. __ It has been a long time gone.__ It is a non-issue

= = = = = = =

a great light shinesgreat enough for us to rejoice for a momentblinding us to flickery light twinks so smallthey can be discarded with nary a squint

Friday, January 12, 2007

What to do while waiting for our time to come? Doze? Run in circles? Take a class?

There is such a focus on completedness that we sometimes forget the journey.

Mother's know mothering is never done. The kid will always be in process. So idealized mothers attend to the moment. What does it mean for G*D to be with us in the manger? What about when in Egypt? How about as a runaway? At a wedding?

When we begin to ask what it means to evidence G*D in the particular setting in which we find ourselves it becomes more possible to just go ahead and find ambrosia and amrita in honey, nectar of the gods, and plain old water (divided by the firmament, but still water on both sides of the sky). Having found the moment of G*D present is now, not an hour away, allows a savoring of the simple and finding it simply divine.

Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy by Barbara Ehrenreich may be another way of coming at this story. An excerpt: "We do not yet understand the neuronal basis of . . . pleasure, but an interesting line of speculation has opened up only recently. Humans are highly imitative creatures, more so even than monkeys and others of our primate cousins. As all parents learn, to their amazement, an infant can respond to a smile with a smile, or stick out its tongue when a parent does. How does an infant transform the visual image of a protruding tongue into the muscular actions required to make its own tongue stick out? The answer may lie in the discovery of mirror neurons, nerve cells that fire both when an action is perceived -- when the parent sticks out his tongue, for example -- and when it is performed by the perceiver. In other words, the perception of an action is closely tied to the execution of the same action by the beholder. We cannot see a dancer, for example, without unconsciously starting up the neural processes that are the basis of our own participation in the dance."

In other words, to see Jesus' baptismal water flowing in a wedding scene calls us to perceive it flowing through us. Water/Wine makes no difference, G*D is with us!

= = = = = = =

O little cana, how still we see thee lieon the back of your "Welcome to Cana" signit reads, "Welcome to Cana"your still had run dryyou had the makingsbut not the timefor fine wine

look againyou've got the timeyou still have the makingsfor still water to become living waterto welcome the worldto welcome the universestill no longer, still right now

Thursday, January 11, 2007

While we were yet "pagan" we did not experience ourselves as led astray. It wasn't until there was a moment of revelation that our accepted reality didn't match up with our experienced reality - a moment we later called holy - that we began to make important distinctions regarding decision-making moments and decision-making methodologies.

Recognizing that just because we all believed something didn't make it right opens us to questions about what is now needed that is different than has been needed. We can still affirm that what moved us forward was a particular decision (gift) but that keeping on with that same gift in a different setting is now holding us back.

In the midst of a listing of various decision-making modalities (gifts) there is a key element that takes us beyond simply discussing, debating, warring about the numbered hierarchy of gifts that ranks those who hold them. This key is that of "a common good". In this sense all gifts are good gifts if they are able to play their part. When there is no dialogue between them, the gifts fall apart into sectarian prejudices.

Gifts are activated by a common good (a holy spirit moment) that senses a turning tide and shifts gears to a next gift, already present, even as we momentarily shift away from a previous gift. This activation process calls for a gift of ambiguity appreciation larger than any particular decision-making gift. It calls for a gift of humility to let go and humility to step forward.

= = = = = = =

common spiritholy goodmix and matchholy commonspirit good

here a giftthere a gifteverywherea gift gift

gift of momentgift of choicegift of applicationgift of letting gogift of holding ongift for every season under heaven

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

G*D's steadfast love is showered all over the place. It doesn't make any difference where or who one is or whether we are talking a human being or a mountain - that love is a given background.

Why then the plea that it continue. Is it not rock solid? Why in particular would those who know G*D need continual assurance? Are we the most tempted to ignore it? Are we the most likely to subvert it into power for ourselves? Are we aware of how much we are in debt to it and can't ever quite hold our heads up on our own?

For folks who claim to know something so extraordinary as a source of steadfast love, we seem to keep losing our way within it. We imagine it to be limited and we need to scramble for our share. We suspect that the future may be different than the past and that we will find ourselves not being uniquely privileged by our knowledge. We fear that it is too good to be true and since we obviously need it, it may, as obviously, be turned to greater and greater expectations that we cannot live up to and we will lose love.

Why might you plead for more steadfast love for folks who are exactly as we are? Might it an attempt to lull G*D into setting us as the standard, thus protecting our rights forever? Obviously we are upright of heart, was there ever a doubt, and if that is the criterion, we get the love we need. Too bad about those others that didn't do as we do.

Monday, January 08, 2007

We dare not be silent for the sake of a place of Peace. There is so much unrest and wrong that silence is not just turning a blind eye, but actively sticking a stick in whatever sight is left. Silence is a catalyst that amplified the wrong. Silence is an exponent of unrest, raising it more quickly than it might otherwise rise.

A new name is needed in the difficulties of the day - a name that names what might yet be rejoiced over. This name holds a future of active peace and justice, not just a holding tank keeping unrest and wrong at a minimum.

Again and again we are called to call out Delightful and Heart-of-My-Heart. For our sake, as well as Zion's, we see what can be built on, not just what must be restrained, and we can call that out.

As you look at your community, your relationships, what will you so name?

With tingling ears we have searched and searched for something that will not disappoint. We have searched inside ourselves and found the house of Eli still alive and well. We have lowered our expectations of everything and everywhere, it is all like Nazareth - unacceptable as a starting place.

A big place we searched was the law but we found it didn't reflect a Law of Justice very well. We could follow it forever and never find it brought us to a beneficial place, only a place bounded by Eli's sons waiting for a loophole to be found.

Finally it is important to fall back on such basics as being trustworthy and without deceit. These are very tough roads to travel that go beyond easy, prior, answers and are continually in need of integrated responses.

Finally it becomes a question of whom we will be with at the end.

If we will be with those we are now with, what response is needed now?If we will be with ourselves as we are now, what response is needed?If we will be with that unknown to us, what response is now needed?

= = = = = = =

follow mecome and seehurry onwe will come to a mirrorand see as we are seen

choices will be feasted uponresponses will be made and remadewe'll see how this looksand that

shapes will be formedlives hidden will be revealedroads will openlaws will fade

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Even though I was called before being birthed [Isaiah], yet I have waited patiently [Psalm] for spiritual gifts [1 Corinthians] to be identified and put to work [John].

This is an arduous journey at each stage.

Calling before birthing leads to entitlement that all ought to go well with me. When it doesn't a tantrum ensues. It is difficult to be patient.

Presuming patience is learned there is still a desire to arrive and we can patiently go down many a wrong alley. Patience is needed, though, to clarify a gift's presence.

Again with the entitlement, seems it never goes away, isn't a spiritual gift a very valuable thing to possess and to use at every occasion, even when a different gift is called for. The spiritual gift of a hammer sees every occasion as a nail, even when it isn't. It is difficult to find one's place and to humbly use one's gift.

And we are back to a call again. Jesus is called, disciples are called, all G*D's children are called to birth after birth, to use of their present gift and future gifts (but not necessarily past gifts) again and again. A call to communal birthing moves us onward even as we try to find our place in a community that will challenge our entitlements with its own and both will need to be seen in a larger light.

The initial process seemed pretty straight-forward at first and then our realities set in. Now we need to move on to see our community as but one gift part of a community of communities.

= = = = = = =

calledthrough timethrough spacethrough ancestorsand descendants

calledin timein spacein ancestorsand descendants

calledin spite of everything so farin anticipation of something different

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Fire clears the chaff. This includes everything not repented of. This includes a desire to repent more than has been repented so far - to keep peeling back the onion of repentance, layer by layer. Eventually getting to the question of what is left when there is no more repenting to do or what new clarity is released when we stop using repentance as a key model for life.

In some sense the baptism(s) of spirit and fire are part of a good-cop/bad-cop routine.

One way of trying to clear ourselves of mechanizing baptism and sub-dividing it into component parts is to look at our involvement in the process. It is recorded here that baptisms were completed and praying was still going on. It is this praying part that may move us from baptismal technique to its potential reorientation of life.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

They had only been born. They had only been born Samaritan. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. This is all we know.

Somewhere along the way that is not enough. It seems nothing is ever enough when it comes to measuring up to someone else's experience they consider normative for everyone - right now. No process or stage of a process is enough. Not even being at a stage a measurer will come to is enough as the measurerer isn’t yet there to measure it.

At any rate, a Holy Spirit was deemed necessary. How fortunate that Peter and John were confirmed in their experience by others seemingly, finally, measuring up to it.

We still make up rules and regulations about effective baptism and its deeper meaning when that is not measurable. I can't help but wonder what Jesus would have said about what additional was needed for a baptism in his name to be a baptism in his name. I can't help but wonder how surprised he was to find a dove diving at him as he shakes water from his eyes.

Might a needed Holy Spirit simply be a sense of belovedness, regardless of style or language of baptism? And is that enough, or not?

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goprayhandle

unto Samaria and the ends of this earthwe go before there is any evidencethat going will redound glory to us

we identify greatest need and focus thereeven if it is only our greatest need projectedwe impose meaning wherever we pray

twisting arms and patting backswe handle the reins of reigning understandingthat we might drive rather than be driven

indeed we handle if not always gentlyindeed we pray if not always wiselyindeed we go if not always happily

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

The voice, spirit, presence of G*D is over water. A slight sound, a breeze is magnified. G*D is positioned to be reflected.

It might be asked, what are we if not water enhanced? Some bone, some minerals, some nano electrolytes, but mostly water and here we are speak and act G*D in our time and place - reflective glory created with a glory of our own.

Over rivulet and flood, G*D hovers. Over time and space, we hover. Nested beings - Christmas has brought an angel hovering over witnesses hovering over a babe hovering over nations hovering over angels. Epiphany has brought us a star hovering over a manger hovering over creation hovering over stars.

In each part and whole is blessedness found. No one remains lost in chilly exile. Baptism of Jesus, yes. Baptism of all, yes.

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virtual watersprinkled waterpoured waterengulfing water

where is the presence of G*D missingif we go to the ends of the earththere is waterif we ascend to the heightsthere is waterif we descend to sheolthere is water

my baptism is your baptismyour baptism is my baptismour baptism is creation's baptismin our beginning is our endand through it all - baptism

Monday, January 01, 2007

Formed incarnate, redemption already secure, we pass through waters dark and deep, water standing against water.

Called from chaotic exile, already created for glory, we rise through waters light and lively, water living within water.

Isaiah envisions glorious redemption as an integral part of our incarnation, our formation. He remembers an exodus initially protected by parted water and all the desert and parting of more water to come. He anticipates those who had been buried far away to come surfing back.

Reading Isaiah emboldens us as we pass through our next water of redemption to find a glory not fully dreamed. Can you imagine living already redeemed, already glorious?

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We bring Progressive Christian celebrative and educational events to Wisconsin that the expansive love of GOD will be clear for all to experience. Please visit our Kairos CoMotion website for more information. ///// We have been nurtured in the United Methodist tradition and practice our tradition of bringing together "acts of piety" and "acts of mercy". ///// Click Here to signup to receive the postings here as they are made. ///// We appreciate your presence and support. ///// We have 10 years of postings organized by Book, Chapter, and Verse - you are welcome to browse.